DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY POSTURAL CONTROL IN PRETERM AND FULLTERM INFANTS

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the development of early postural control in preterm and fullterm infants during the first six months of age. Methods: A longitudinal study was carried out with a group of 13 infants born with gestational age below 35 weeks (PT) and a group of 11 infants born with gestational age between 38 and 41 weeks (FT). The Chailey Levels of Ability assessment was used to evaluate the supine, prone, sitting and standing positions, observing the positions and movements of the body segments, the relationship among them, and the weight bearing. Evaluations took place at 15 days, 1st., 2nd., 3rd., 4th., 5th. and 6th. month of age; the gestational age of the preterm infant was corrected for 40 weeks. Results: There is a significant difference (p